Development of deaf and blind children

Sever to profound hearing impairment affects approximately 1 in 1000 children in the developed world; severe visual impairment (SVI) and blindness affect approximately 1 in 10,000 children. The developmental consequences of these severe forms of hearing impairment and visual impairment reflect an interaction between four major sets of factors: the response of the child's developmental environment to the child, differing degrees of impairment, the age of onset, the existence of concomitant impairments, particularly central nervous system abnormalities. The interaction between these factors means that there is no typical development of deaf or blind children. This article specifically addresses language development, social and emotional development and cognitive development in these children.